Trapped
by vexatively
In the shaded courtyard of the current Inu no Taisho, they whisper.
They think he does not know.
---
If a great wave should fall ---
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" She is hesitant, but she approaches him.
She carefully eases the pink blossom into his hands.
"It's… it's a flower," she tries to explain, feeling the situation spiral helplessly beyond control. She cringes. Of course he already knows that. He always knows. "The sakura trees have bloomed early this spring."
---
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
---
She dances on the balls of her feet in anticipation. But only a little. Ever so slowly, she's realized that his opinion now means so much and pleasing him has become an obsession— a habit she is so loathe to break.
There is a stirring in his chest, though he pushes the feeling away. Maybe his heart will stop rebelling from his control once she is sent to the withered miko in the hanyou's village.
---
And maybe, I'll find out
The way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
---
"It… is too fragile." He seems almost uncomfortable. Almost. The easily crushable bud looks so out of place between weapons that shed blood.
"It's okay." Her hands grow presumptuous and close his fingers around the flower, even as she sees the faint tint of poison bubbling under skin.
"I will protect it," he tells her, almost awkwardly. Almost. The formal words taste false on his tongue but he is not as strong, not as brave as the little girl in front of him, so he does not continue.
---
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you
---
Sesshoumaru hears the words and the snickers that accompany their exchange. Our Inu no Taisho! A human child's dog. The word spat out. I wonder why our esteemed lord would keep her. She is his pet, isn't it obvious? If so, then we mustn't judge him. And the girl is so scrawny! If you chose a human, why not choose a healthier looking one?
Even as they continue and rumors start, each more ridiculous than the last— I hear she's his snack in case he ever gets too hungry— his gaze is focused on the flower. She smiles brilliantly, running off again like the sunshine you try to keep in a bottle for when the inevitable rain comes but you can't trap the sunshine where there is nothing but darkness.
She will be better off away from here (from the darkness).
---
Runaway with my heart
Runaway with my hope
Runaway with my love
---
As if she can hear his thoughts, she turns around. "I'll always follow you, you know." All her courage is mustered, to keep her tone light, even as her words remain matter-of-fact. In that forever, her soul is right next to his, raw and throbbing.
He will not be surprised if turns out she can read minds.
The flower in his hand quivers with the oncoming winds; Sesshoumaru closes his hands a little more to protect it.
His heart aches, a little, as she leaves.
He is trusted to protect something far more fragile than a flower— her heart— and he will do that, at any cost.
---
I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart and your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
---
In the shaded courtyard of the current Inu no Taisho (scented with their cloying words and attempts to curry favor), they whisper.
They think he does not know.
But he does, and he knows they are wrong. I don't keep her. I have never chosen her.
---
If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
---
She chose me.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha has yet to be mine. The rights of claiming this little slice of genius goes to Rumiko Takahashi-sama alone. But, I do enjoy playing with the odd character to satisfy my tortured fangirl heart.
E/N: Originally posted for the inusongfic's Week 6 (Follow) theme challenge on October 5, 2008.
